About the Des Moines Turkey Trot
The course is a tour of downtown Des Moines, starting near the courthouse in the Court Avenue Entertainment District, crossing the Des Moines River into the Historic East Village, then looping around the State Capitol Complex, where you get a wide-open view back toward the skyline. The longer distance continues past the Botanical Center and back over the Women's Achievement Bridge.
The one real climb wraps around the Capitol grounds, but it opens up quickly and the return is mostly downhill. Because it runs on Thanksgiving morning through the middle of the city, the streets are quiet and the crowd is heavy on visiting family watching from the sidewalks.
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Distances & Start Times
3.1 Miles11/26/2026 09:00$50
3.1 Miles11/26/2026 09:00$184
300m11/26/2026 10:15$15
3.1 Miles11/26/2026 00:01$50
Going for a Time?
Set a goal and get a pace band: every mile split on a card sized for your phone lock screen, so race morning needs no math.
Not sure what to aim for? The 5K pace chart lists the pace for every finish time.
Where to Stay
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